Under certain conditions, traffic signals are installed to delineate right-of-way, improve overall safety, and reduce travel delay at an intersection. The City uses a series of criteria (warrants) from the California Manual for Uniform Traffic control Devices to determine if a traffic signal needs to be installed at an intersection. The installation of a traffic signal is expensive (approximately $250,000 to $300,000) and a significant investment for the City. As a result, the City maintains a priority list of locations and funding is allocated every two years by the City Council in which to build a traffic signal from the list. For a more detailed explanation of the process, please see the New Traffic Signals document.

If you would like to request a new traffic signal, please contact the Transportation Engineering Division by completing an online form on the main Transportation Engineering page or by calling (510) 494-4745.New Traffic Signals

Under certain conditions, stop signs are installed to delineate right-of-way and improve safety at an intersection. Stop signs are not installed to deter vehicle speeding. The City uses a series of criteria (warrants) to determine if all-way stops need to be installed at an intersection. All-way stop signs can be warranted if both major and minor street traffic exceeds a certain vehicular threshold in addition to having one of the following: 1) if an intersection has a history of correctable traffic collisions, or 2) if the intersection has a significant number of automobile-pedestrian conflicts. For a more detailed explanation, please see the Stop Signs document.

If you have a stop sign request, please contact the Transportation Engineering Division by completing an online form on the main Transportation Engineering page or by calling (510) 494-4745.Stop Signs

Crosswalks exist at all intersections whether they are marked or not. Crosswalks are marked only where necessary for the guidance of pedestrians to direct them to the safest of several potential routes. Studies have shown there is a higher collision rate within marked crosswalks than there is within an unmarked crosswalk. This is due to the fact that pedestrians tend to have a false sense of security within marked crosswalks in believing motorists will automatically yield the right-of-way to them. Please see the Crosswalks document for more information.

If you have a crosswalk request, please contact the Transportation Engineering Division by completing an online form on the main Transportation Engineering page or by calling (510) 494-4745.Crosswalks

Speed laws, as well as other traffic laws, are enacted by the State Legislature and compiled in the California Vehicle Code (CVC). Local jurisdictions have authority to establish increased or reduced speed limits on the basis of engineering and traffic surveys (CVC 22358). Such surveys must include an analysis of roadway conditions, accident records and a sampling of the prevailing speed of traffic, (CVC 627). Other factors may be considered, but an unreasonable speed limit, which is called a speed trap, may not be established (CVC 40802).

Please see the Speed Limits document for more detailed information regarding speed limits. If you have further questions regarding the establishment of speed limits or a missing or needed speed limit sign, please contact the Transportation Engineering Division by completing an online form on the main Transportation Engineering page or by calling (510) 494-4745.Speed Limits

The California Vehicle Code has established the law regarding parking near fire hydrants. Pursuant to section 22514, no person shall stop, park, or leave standing any vehicle within 15 feet of a fire hydrant.

The City does not paint red curb in front of fire hydrants due to the high cost of maintenance. The City has thousands of fire hydrants within the city limits and maintaining 30 feet of red curb in front of all of them would take away time that can be spent on other public facilities’ maintenance within the City.

If there is a vehicle parked in front of a fire hydrant please call the Police Department at (510) 790-6800. If a vehicle is illegally parked by a fire hydrant, the Fire Department will use all means necessary to obtain access to the fire hydrant. If there is a fire emergency, please call 9-1-1 immediately.